School bans clapping but allows 'silent cheers'

Students can celebrate success but only when teachers agree
- byAngela Mollard

21 Jul
2016

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Students can celebrate success but only when teachers agree.

A Sydney school has banned clapping and instead introduced “silent cheering”, “pulling excited faces” and “punching the air” to respect students who are sensitive to noise.

The policy, announced in the school newsletter, allows children to conduct a silent cheer when prompted by teachers.

Elanora Heights Primary School published the new policy as follows: ‘Instead of clapping, the students are free to punch the air, pull excited faces and wriggle about on the spot. This practice has been adopted to respect members of our school community who are sensitive to noise. When you attend an assembly teachers will prompt the audience to conduct a silent cheer if it is needed. Teachers have also found the silent cheers to be a great way to expend children’s energy and reduce fidgeting.’

The policy comes a day after another Sydney school banned teachers from calling students “ladies” or “women” in favour of “gender-neutral” terms.